Our last day was spent visiting famous places outside of the city by coach. We booked the "Quest for the Holy Grail" tour with Highland Experience Tours. Great tour! And our tour guide/driver, Iain, was hilarious! Great mix of history, culture and humor! He is also a great story teller managing to weave the story of Scotland in such a way that we were listening with our mouths open!
We were almost late to our tour which started at the Royal Mile (a 30 min walk)! We did make it - out of breath - but there.
Once on the bus we headed out of town over the river into the County of Fife (used to be the kingdom of Fife). Apparently, the people there still think they have their own kingdom. But they need time to assimilate. It's only been 1,200 years! :P Before crossing we stopped by the take a picture of a famous bridge. I can't recall the name. Doesn't matter really- that's not what it's famous for. The current bridge replaced the bridge that fell down. The man who designed the previous bridge was a man by the name of Mr. Botch. Yup, as in "he really botched it" or "don't botch it!". He'll be infamous for as long as the English language survives!
There our first stop was at Dunfermline Abbey. This is the Abbey where King Malcolm and his wife Queen Margaret were originally buried. Malcolm is still buried there along with another famous Scottish King and national hero - Robert the Bruce. Tradition also says that William Wallace's mother was also buried in the graveyard. So here is some interesting tidbits. Most of you saw the movie called "Braveheart" with Mel Gibson. Mel plays William Wallace who started the rebellion against the English when his wife was rapped and murdered by an Englishman. He was quite successful, particularly when he defeated the English at Stirling Bridge, until he was betrayed into the hands of the English (not by Bruce as the movie suggests). He was hanged, drawn and quartered so that he could never have a proper grave (very gruesome way to die!). Therefore, to honor him the Scottish people buried his mother at Dunfermline. Robert the Bruce, however, was the real "Braveheart". He was the King of the Scotts and lead a successful campaign against the English defeating them at battle of Bannockburn near Stirling. Only 6,000 highlanders against 24,000 English soldiers thereby winning independence for Scotland! Since he never got a chance to keep his promise of leading a crusade to the Holy Land he had his right hand man, Sir Douglas, promise to embalm his heart upon death and take it with him, which he did. On the way he and a few other Scot's found themselves surrounded by moors (Muslims) with no chance of escape. He took the heart (which was in a small casket on a chain) and threw it before charging the enemy screaming "Lead on brave heart, I'll follow thee!". And that is where the expression Braveheart came from! It was later found by other soldiers and returned to Scotland and is now buried at Melrose Abbey.
Next we traveled to Bannockburn, the small piece of land left of the original battle field. There was were able get a glimpse of the statue of Robert the Bruce sitting atop of his horse. The face on the statue was created using forensic science which modeled what he would look like based in his skull :)
Nearby was Stirling Castle. We had two hours to explore and grab some lunch. We got a surprise treat when a group of highland dancers held a performance there. The castle has some spectacular views of the surrounding country. It also has great exhibits like the tapestry that is being woven by 3 people at the castle. It will take 2 years to complete! Try the cafe, the food is delicious! *Sigh* I'm going to miss English scones...
Our next stop was Rosalyn Chapel which is mostly known for being in the Divinci Code movie/book. The chapel contains the bones of one of the Rosalyn knights that died with Sir Douglas. There is also legends about what the sealed vaults of the chapel contain: the Holy Grail, the head of John the Baptist, the Ark of the Covenant, Solomon's treasure, the Mason's treasure, and also Elvis and a UFO. Personally, I think it's Elvis ;) We won't know for sure until they are opened but that means the chapel will fall down. Hmmm... conspiracies!
Back to Edinburgh to take one last walk on Princes Street. We're all packed now and tomorrow we have a 9am flight to London!
so much history, love it. the photos are beautiful! :)
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